Danny votes to protect Winter Fuel Allowance

Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester and the Meon Valley, Danny Chambers, has voted against the Government’s plans to cut the Winter Fuel Payment, however the vote was passed by the Labour Government.

He was joined by all seventy-two Liberal Democrat MPs.

It comes as figures from the House of Common Library suggest that 19,957 pensioners in Winchester are at risk of losing the £300 payment, which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months.

Across the country, 11 million pensioners are set to lose their winter fuel payment under the government’s plan.

The charity Age UK has said around two million will struggle to afford their energy bills as a result. This is despite the average energy bill being set to rise by £149 a year from October.

Danny had previously challenged the Chancellor on changes to the Winter Fuel Payments in Parliament last week.

Commenting after the vote, Danny Chambers said: 

“I am deeply concerned for the pensioners across our communities who will be left struggling to pay their bills this winter without this payment.

“People who are over the pension credit limit by just a few pounds will now lose the entire allowance, despite energy bills due to rise again. This means pensioners receiving a fraction of the minimum wage will be losing this vital lifeline.

“I accept that the government needs to make difficult choices because of the mess to public finances left by the last government. But cutting payments to vulnerable pensioners is the wrong priority. Nobody should be forced between heating and eating this winter.

“I proudly opposed the Government in this vote and stood up for the many pensioners in the constituency who have been contacting me distressed by how they will cope this winter.”